Drawer Adjusting Device

ABSTRACT

A drawer adjusting device includes a fixed member having an adjusting hole. A movable member includes two limiting blocks spaced from each other by a gap. The movable member includes an upper pushing portion on a top end thereof and a lower pushing portion on a bottom end thereof. An adjusting member includes a first side having a control portion and a second side having a spiral block. A spacing between the spiral block and a central axis of the adjusting member gradually increases from an end of the spiral block toward another end of the spiral block. The adjusting member is located between the fixed member and the movable member. The control portion is received in the adjusting hole. The spiral block extends through the gap between the two limiting blocks.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims the benefit of Taiwan application serial No.201710083052.3, filed on Feb. 16, 2017, and the entire contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a part for a drawer and, moreparticularly, to a drawer adjusting device mounted to a rear end of adrawer to adjust levels of a sideboard and a tail board of the drawer.

2. Description of the Related Art

The drawers of early furniture were not provided with sliding tracks andwere, thus, difficult to open and close. The drawers could fall off ifpulled out completely. Provision of the sliding tracks permit smoothopening and closing of the drawers and can restrict the open extent ofthe drawers to effectively avoid falling off of the drawers, increasingsafety.

However, it would be difficult to access articles in a drawer thatcannot be pulled out completely. Thus, manufacturers continuouslyimproved the sliding rails in recent years and had provided a slidingrail assembly permitting a drawer to be pulled out to an outermostposition in which the drawer is completely exposed to allow easy accessto the articles in the drawer.

Although the above sliding track provides more convenient use ofdrawers, for a drawer that would be completely exposed during use, thelevel of the tail portion of the drawer (the flushness at the connectionbetween the tail board and the two sideboards of the drawer) in theappearance will directly affect the overall sense of quality of thefurniture. This issue has not been noticed, because the tail portion ofthe drawer is rarely exposed. Thus, mechanisms for adjusting the levelsof the tail board and the sideboards are still not available in themarket, resulting in trouble to drawer assemblers. Improvement is, thus,necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above problem, the present invention provides a draweradjusting device to adjust the levels of the sideboard and the tailboard, such that the tail board of the drawer, when exposed, can enhancethe overall sense of quality of the furniture.

When the terms “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down”, “top”,“bottom”, “inner”, “outer”, “side”, and similar terms are used herein,it should be understood that these terms have reference only to thestructure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewingthe drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing theinvention, rather than restricting the invention.

A drawer adjusting device according to the present invention includes afixed member having an adjusting hole. A movable member includes twolimiting blocks spaced from each other by a gap. The movable memberincludes an upper pushing portion on a top end thereof and a lowerpushing portion on a bottom end thereof. An adjusting member includes afirst side having a control portion and a second side having a spiralblock. A spacing between the spiral block and a central axis of theadjusting member gradually increases from an end of the spiral blocktoward another end of the spiral block. The adjusting member is locatedbetween the fixed member and the movable member. The control portion isreceived in the adjusting hole. The spiral block extends through the gapbetween the two limiting blocks.

Thus, the drawer adjusting device according to the present inventionprovides a simple structure that can easily be operated to adjust thelevels of the sideboard and the tail board, such that the tail board ofthe drawer, when exposed, can enhance the overall sense of quality ofthe furniture.

In an example, the fixed member includes a first sideboard insertionplate, a bottom board coupling plate connected to the first sideboardinsertion plate, and a first tail board coupling plate connected to thefirst sideboard insertion plate. The adjusting hole is defined in thefirst sideboard insertion plate. This structure is simple and is easy tomanufacture and assemble, reducing the manufacturing costs andincreasing the assembling convenience.

In an example, the movable member includes a second sideboard insertionplate and a second tail board coupling plate connected to the secondsideboard insertion plate. The two limiting blocks and the upper pushingportion are disposed on the second sideboard insertion plate. The lowerpushing portion is disposed on the second tail board coupling plate.This structure is simple and is easy to manufacture and assemble,reducing the manufacturing costs and increasing the assemblingconvenience.

In an example, the first sideboard insertion plate includes an opening.A shield plate is fixed to an end of the opening and shields the end ofthe opening, defining a chamber in the first sideboard insertion plate.The adjusting hole extends through the shield plate. This structure issimple and is easy to manufacture and assemble, reducing themanufacturing costs and increasing the assembling convenience.

In an example, the second sideboard insertion plate of the movablemember abuts the first sideboard insertion plate of the fixed member.The two limiting blocks are located in the chamber. This structure savesthe space required for assembly.

In an example, the second tail board coupling plate of the movablemember abuts the first tail board coupling plate of the fixed member.The first tail board coupling plate has a lower edge located above thelower pushing portion. This structure saves the space required forassembly.

In an example, the first tail board coupling plate is connected to anedge of the first sideboard insertion plate. An extension extendsoutward from another edge of the first sideboard insertion plate. A capis coupled to the first sideboard insertion plate and includes a slit.The extension is securely engaged in the slit. When the first sideboardinsertion plate is inserted into the sideboard of the drawer, the capslightly deforms to be securely fixed in the sideboard, increasing theengaging reliability between the fixed member and the sideboard.

In an example, the adjusting member includes a stopper block. Thestopper block is spaced from the spiral block and is located outside ofthe spiral block. The stopper block limits the rotational extent of thefirst adjusting member to avoid excessive rotation of the firstadjusting member that may lead to disengagement from the two limitingblocks and subsequent reassembly, increasing use convenience.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments of this inventiondescribed in connection with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a drawer adjusting device ofan embodiment according to the present invention, a tail board, a bottomboard, and a sideboard of a drawer.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the drawer adjusting deviceof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is another exploded, perspective view of the drawer adjustingdevice, the tail board, the bottom board, and the sideboard of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another exploded, perspective view of the drawer adjustingdevice of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the drawer adjusting device afterassembly.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along section line A-A of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with an adjusting member rotated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a drawer adjusting device of anembodiment according to the present invention includes a fixed member 1,a movable member 2, and an adjusting member 3. The fixed member 1 can befixed to a tail board T and a bottom board B of a drawer. A portion ofthe fixed member 1 and a portion of the movable member 2 extend into asideboard L of the drawer. The adjusting member 3 is mounted between thefixed member 1 and the movable member 2. When the adjusting member 3 isrotated, the movable member 2 moves upward or downward relative to thefixed member 1 to thereby move the sideboard L upward or downward.

Specifically, the fixed member 1 includes a first sideboard insertionplate 1 a, a bottom board coupling plate 1 b connected to a bottom edgeof the first sideboard insertion plate 1 a, and a first tail boardcoupling plate 1 c connected to an edge of the first sideboard insertionplate 1 a. The first sideboard insertion plate 1 a is inserted into thesideboard L of the drawer. The bottom board coupling plate 1 b is fixedto the bottom board B of the drawer. The first tail board coupling plate1 c is fixed to the tail board T of the drawer.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixed member 1 includes anadjusting hole 11 defined in the first sideboard insertion plate 1 a foralignment with the adjusting member 3. In this embodiment, the firstsideboard insertion plate 1 a includes an opening 12. A shield plate 13is fixed to an end of the opening 12 and shields the end of the opening12, defining a chamber S in the first sideboard insertion plate 1 a forreceiving the adjusting member 3. The adjusting hole 11 extends throughthe shield plate 13. Thus, an end of the adjusting member 3 can extendthrough the adjusting hole 11 to permit a user to rotate the adjustingmember 3 from inside the drawer.

Furthermore, an extension 14 extends outward from another edge of thefirst sideboard insertion plate 1 a. A cap 15 is coupled to the firstsideboard insertion plate 1 a and includes a slit 151. The extension 14is securely engaged in the slit 151. When the first sideboard insertionplate 1 a is inserted into the sideboard L of the drawer, the cap 15slightly deforms to be securely fixed in the sideboard L, increasing theengaging reliability between the fixed member 1 and the sideboard L.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the movable member 2 includes a secondsideboard insertion plate 2 a and a second tail board coupling plate 2 bconnected to the second sideboard insertion plate 2 a. The movablemember 2 includes two limiting blocks 21 disposed on the secondsideboard insertion plate 2 a and spaced from each other by a gap. Themovable member 2 further includes an upper pushing portion 22 on a topend of the second sideboard insertion plate 2 a. Furthermore, themovable member 2 includes a lower pushing portion 23 disposed on abottom end of the second tail board coupling plate 2 b. With referenceto FIG. 1, in assembly, the second sideboard insertion plate 2 a of themovable member 2 abuts the first sideboard insertion plate 1 a of thefixed member 1. The two limiting blocks 21 are located in the chamber S.The second tail board coupling plate 2 b of the movable member 2 abutsthe first tail board coupling plate 1 c of the fixed member 1. The firsttail board coupling plate 1 c has a lower edge located above the lowerpushing portion 23.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the adjusting member 3 includes afirst side having a control portion 31. The control portion 31 can be inthe form of a minus-shaped groove or a cruciform groove, such that ascrewdriver bit with a flat head or a Phillips head can be inserted intothe control portion 31 and can drive the adjusting member 3 to rotate.The adjusting member 3 further includes a second side having a spiralblock 32. A spacing between the spiral block 32 and a central axis ofthe adjusting member 3 gradually increases from an end of the spiralblock 32 toward the other end of the spiral block 32. The adjustingmember 3 is received in the chamber S and is located between the fixedmember 1 and the movable member 2. The control portion 31 is received inthe adjusting hole 11. The spiral block 32 extends through the gapbetween the two limiting blocks 21. The adjusting member 3 furtherincludes a stopper block 33 spaced from and located outside of thespiral block 32. When the adjusting member 3 is rotated to apredetermined position, the stopper block 33 abuts a lower one of thetwo limiting blocks 21 to avoid excessive rotation of the adjustingmember 3 that may lead to disengagement from the two limiting blocks 21and subsequent reassembly.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, according to the above structure,after the drawer adjusting device has been assembled with the tail boardT, the bottom board B, and the sideboard L, if the top edge of the tailboard T is not flush with the top edge of the sideboard L, adjustment ofthe sideboard L in the height direction is required. In the exampleshown in FIG. 6, the top edge of the tail board T is higher than the topedge of the sideboard L, the sideboard L should be moved upward. In thiscase, a user can operate the control portion 31 of the adjusting member3 from inside of the sideboard L to rotate the adjusting member 3, suchthat a section of the spiral block 32 located between the two limitingblocks 23 and abutting one of the two limiting blocks 21 changes from alocation more distant to the central axis to another location nearer tothe central axis. During this procedure, the movable member 2 graduallymoves upward relative to the fixed member 1 to actuate the sideboard Lupward by the upper pushing portion 32 until the top edge of thesideboard L is flush with the top edge of the tail board T.

In view of the foregoing, the drawer adjusting device according to thepresent invention provides a simple structure that can easily beoperated to adjust the levels of the sideboard L and the tail board T,such that the tail board T of the drawer, when exposed, can enhance theoverall sense of quality of the furniture.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drawer adjusting device comprising: a fixedmember including an adjusting hole; a movable member including twolimiting blocks spaced from each other by a gap, with the movable memberincluding an upper pushing portion on a top end thereof and a lowerpushing portion on a bottom end thereof; and an adjusting memberincluding a first side having a control portion and a second side havinga spiral block, with a spacing between the spiral block and a centralaxis of the adjusting member gradually increasing from an end of thespiral block toward another end of the spiral block, with the adjustingmember located between the fixed member and the movable member, with thecontrol portion received in the adjusting hole, and with the spiralblock extending through the gap between the two limiting blocks.
 2. Thedrawer adjusting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed memberincludes a first sideboard insertion plate, a bottom board couplingplate connected to the first sideboard insertion plate, and a first tailboard coupling plate connected to the first sideboard insertion plate,and wherein the adjusting hole is defined in the first sideboardinsertion plate.
 3. The drawer adjusting device as claimed in claim 2,wherein the movable member includes a second sideboard insertion plateand a second tail board coupling plate connected to the second sideboardinsertion plate, wherein the two limiting blocks and the upper pushingportion are disposed on the second sideboard insertion plate, andwherein the lower pushing portion is disposed on the second tail boardcoupling plate.
 4. The drawer adjusting device as claimed in claim 3,wherein the first sideboard insertion plate includes an opening, whereina shield plate is fixed to an end of the opening and shields the end ofthe opening, defining a chamber in the first sideboard insertion plate,and wherein the adjusting hole extends through the shield plate.
 5. Thedrawer adjusting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the secondsideboard insertion plate of the movable member abuts the firstsideboard insertion plate of the fixed member, and wherein the twolimiting blocks are located in the chamber.
 6. The drawer adjustingdevice as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second tail board couplingplate of the movable member abuts the first tail board coupling plate ofthe fixed member, and wherein the first tail board coupling plate has alower edge located above the lower pushing portion.
 7. The draweradjusting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first tail boardcoupling plate is connected to an edge of the first sideboard insertionplate, wherein an extension extends outward from another edge of thefirst sideboard insertion plate, wherein a cap is coupled to the firstsideboard insertion plate and includes a slit, and wherein the extensionis securely engaged in the slit.
 8. The drawer adjusting device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting member includes a stopperblock, and wherein the stopper block is spaced from and located outsideof the spiral block.